Questions About Advanced Degree Track (MSN NP being replaced by DNP?)

I'm hoping someone can answer a few questions and/or offer advice regarding my education track. I was recently accepted into a DE-MSN program that does not award a BSN before the MSN phase of the program. Students are required to obtain RN before moving forward in the program. I'm wondering, how important is having a BSN? My goal is to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. I am unclear as to whether or not I'll be able to practice as an NP once I graduate since the MSN track is supposedly being phased and if I'll simply be an MSN with an RN. If it is, I'm left wondering whether it's more wise to get a BSN and then enter into a DNP program. My fear is that I'll have invested a lot of time and money for an advanced MSN degree and come out on equal ground as a BSN/RN or non-degree RN. Any feedback would be helpful!

Each school is different, but a lot of schools that had dropped their MSN-NP programs are offering them again. The push for a DNP is great, but currently does not change anything. Once one obtains their NP degree and certification, we should be able to continue practicing. Are you currently an RN? Very few NP programs offered direct ADN - MSN-NP degrees, so if yours does...great!

lhornflanurse - Thanks for the helpful response! It's reassuring to learn current MSN-NP's will still be able to practice after the DNP requirement is enforced. I was afraid they would maybe have to go back to school in order to continue practicing as an NP. No, unfortunately, I'm not currently an RN. I was recently accepted into a DE-MSN program that requires students to gain RN certification after 15 months and work part time as they continue the MSN portion of the program. Do you happen to know if I'll be eligible to sit for the NP exam despite the fact the I'll be graduating after the policy change in 2015?

Nothing is set in stone. (For now) if you want to get your NP currently, one might look into the option of NP MSN vs NP DNP??? It is tough and financially different (on the education side, not reimbursement). Also DNP vs phd. Clinical vs academic Respectively. I currently am board certified through ANCC with my fnp. I soon plan to return to school to obtain my adult geriatric acute care nurse practitioner and DNP. I work with a neurosurgeon, both in office and hospital. I feel that it is in the best knowledge to educate myself on how to do more invasive procedures, medication management, and acute intervention. This may also set me up for way later in life to possibly teach. After all I am only 27. I hope this helps.

A friend of mine at work had told me about the
dnp and apparently it is closer than you think. I am grateful that I was able to be a nurse when I did and am still able to practice as an RN. I am curious as to what the future will bring.

There are many threads discussing the DNP requirement if you care to look through them. Bottom line-there is no mandate that NPs will have to have a doctorate by 2015. There's been talk of making the BSN the entry level requirement for more years than I can remember, and it hasn't happened yet, so I wouldn't worry about the DNP mandate happening anytime soon.

I graduated from a DE program and I have an RN-MSN without the BSN. It didn't make a bit of difference when applying for NP jobs.

This is something I've been a bit worried about as well, but with the fact that NP scope of practice is ultimately up to the states, it doesn't seem like DNP is going to be required by 2015, even if it is recommended by the national nursing organizations.